It’s official: the new Erasmus+ programme for 2021-2027 was launched on 25 March 2021. Euronovia reviews some of the latest elements and changes of the programme published by the European Commission and the French Erasmus+ Agency.

No revolution… but some evolution!

The new Erasmus+ programme will not change drastically but is evolving significantly. First of all, the new Erasmus+ programme is now endowed with a total budget of EUR 26.2 billion, i.e. a substantial increase of more than 80% compared to the previous period (2014-2020). The 2021 budget reaches EUR 2 453.5 million and is broken down as follows:

For the 2021-2027 Programming Period, the programme still encompasses six main sectors: School education, Higher education, Vocational education and training, Adult education, Youth and Sport. Finally, the structure of the programme also remains unchanged and remains divided into three Key Actions:

Key developments in the new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme

Strategic priorities

For this new programming period, Erasmus+ is adapting to the major global challenges by focusing on three key priorities: being more inclusive, digital and green.

Concerning inclusion, the Commission refers to people who have fewer opportunities to access the programme for socio-economic or geographical reasons. This includes people who dropped out of school early, unemployed and/or victims of exclusion and discrimination, as well as those living in remote areas.

The Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated the need to accelerate the digital transition, particularly in education. The programme has a “Digital Erasmus+” strand and sets priority on the development of digital skills, hybrid programmes (virtual/classroom) and e-learning platforms.

Finally, the programme is aligned with the EU Green Deal and includes cross-cutting actions to support the ecological transition. It also aims to promote young people’s participation in democratic life.

Click here to find a brief summary of the new Erasmus+ programme for 2021-2027.

New and enhanced opportunities

To achieve these objectives, Erasmus+ offers new measures to project officers in order to strengthen the opportunities of participation in the programme.

First, new features concern the Key Actions:

• Regarding Key Actions 1  (Learning mobility of individuals):
  • All mobilities can be hybrid (physical mobility combined with virtual activities).
  • Additional funding is provided for participants with fewer opportunities or who can use lower-carbon modes of transport.
  • Short-term mobility projects (6 to 18 months) with simplified functioning are now possible for staff and students.

• Regarding Key Action 2 (Cooperation among organisations and institutions):
  • Small-scale partnerships with simplified operation are now possible for the sectors of school education, vocational education and training and adult education. The funding is a lump sum (EUR 30,000 or EUR 60,000) to cover all funded activities.

Concerning the Higher Education sector:

• The duration of projects is now 26 months.
• Intensive Hybrid Programmes are a new activity available under the Higher Education Mobility action.Beneficiaries can use up to 20% of their grant for international activities.

   

• The projects’ duration is now of 26 months.
• Intensive Hybrid Programmes are a new activity available under the Higher Education Mobility action.
• A new action called “Erasmus Mundus Design Measures” has been created to allow applicants to prepare the submission of an Erasmus Mundus action, including all costs related to the creation and implementation of the joint course and degree. More details here.
• A new action “Erasmus Mundus Design Measures” has been created to help applicants preparing the submission of an Erasmus Mundus action, including all costs related to the creation and implementation of the joint course and degree. More details here.
• Beneficiaries can use up to 20% of their grant for international activities.

Key resources for the perfect Erasmus+ applicant

The Programme Guide provides all the information needed by the project coordinators who wish to participate in the Erasmus+ programme. This document contains in particular: the European priorities of the programme, the supported actions supported, the funding available for each action and the rules of participation.

Below are the deadlines for the submission of applications, by type of project and by sector for the 2021 call for proposals:

Key Action	Action	Deadlines
Key Action 1 (KA1) – Learning mobility of individuals	Mobility of individuals in the field of higher education	11 May 2021
	Mobility of individuals in VET, school education and adult education fields	11 May 2021
	Accreditation of higher education mobility consortia	11 May 2021
	Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)	26 May 2021 (TBC)
	Erasmus Accreditations in VET, school education and adult education	19 October 2021
	Mobility of individuals in the field of youth	11 May 2021 5 October 2021
Key Action 2 (KA2) – Partnerships	Cooperation partnerships	20 May 2021
	Small-scale cooperation partnerships in the fields of school education, VET and adult education	20 May 2021 03 November 2021
	Cooperation partnerships in the field of sport	20 May 2021
	Erasmus Mundus Action	26 May 2021
	Erasmus Teacher Academies	07 September 2021
	Alliances for Innovation	07 September 2021
	Capacity building in the field of youth	01 July 2021
	Centres of Vocational Excellence	07 September 2021
	Non-for-profit Sport Events	20 May 2021
Key Action 3 (KA3) and Jean Monnet Actions	European Youth Together	24 June 2021
	Module, Chair, Centre of Excellence for Higher Education	02 June 2021
	Teacher training, networks of schools and/or professional training organisations	02 June 2021

 

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